Legal Aid Worker

Primary function
This role is responsible for providing client service under the direct supervision of a lawyer. The Legal Aid Worker will be responsible for the initial intake and triage/assessment of family law clients; to confirm financial eligibility and determine the most appropriate service for clients, communicate with clients, stakeholders and various agencies; support clients in the gathering of material evidence and financial disclosure; organize and sort through documentation provided by clients; draft court documents; provide general information, procedural guidance and referrals to other services and agencies; co-ordinate services with duty counsel; facilitate referrals to the certificate program and other tasks as required. The Legal Aid Worker will also carry out any other administrative tasks or duties, as assigned, to support the Manager and other team members.

Primary Location: FLSC - Toronto Central (730-20 Dundas Street West)
Secondary Location: Rexdale Community Hub (21 Panorama Court, Suite 24), Courthouses (311 Jarvis St., 47 Sheppard Ave E., 10 Armoury St.), and any other location in Toronto where Toronto district services are provided.

This position is 100% onsite at the location listed above. The successful candidate(s) must be able to commute to the office(s) and work in-person on a full‑time basis.

Reporting to: Manager Of Legal Services - Family Law Service Centre - Toronto Central

Key accountabilities
• Assessment of the client's needs, including the early identification of vulnerable clients, to facilitate referrals to appropriate services
• Confirming financial eligibility of clients as needed
• Assisting with telephone calls, email correspondence and in-person inquiries
• Managing client files, including certificate files, under the direct supervision of a lawyer, including interviewing and communicating regularly with clients to gather and organize information and documentation about their legal issues
• Drafting and preparation of court documents, including pleadings and briefs and any other documents required by the Family Law Rules as well as drafting of other legal documents as instructed by the lawyer/manager such as statutory declarations, affidavits in support of subsidized housing etc.
• Liaising with various community and government agencies, stakeholders and duty counsel
• Working within established systems to prioritize and manage caseloads
• Ensuring that statistical data is captured and reported accurately
• Demonstrating some flexibility in terms of work hours including occasionally working partly through lunch breaks or past regular work hours
• Performing office administration tasks such as data input, ordering supplies, maintaining files and other administrative tasks as assigned (such as training)

Required skills & experience
• Excellent writing, drafting and communication skills
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication and interview skills, including sound judgment in relating to clients, lawyers and other stakeholders
• Ability to work well in a professional office and team environment, and proven ability to deal effectively and sensitively with vulnerable and marginalized clients on the phone and in-person
• Ability to prioritize and work efficiently under severe time constraints
• Ability to manage client expectations
• Ability to be resilient, solution-oriented, possess a calm temperament and adapt to working well in a constantly changing environment
• Proven ability to learn and adapt to new or modified policies and procedures
• Good understanding of family court processes and the rules and practice directions for all levels of court serviced by Toronto duty counsel
• Understanding and knowledge of legal aid application process, including financial and legal eligibility guidelines and other LAO policies and practices
• Intermediate knowledge and familiarity with Microsoft programs, such as Word, Excel,PowerPoint, and LAO’s PeopleSoft and Legal Files programs
• An understanding and adherence to discretion and client confidentiality

Organizational Competencies Expected
• Client Focus
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Personal Motivation and Accountability
• Focus on Quality and Best Practice
• Problem Solving and Judgment
• Organizational Awareness
• Teamwork and Collaboration